South Korea: Market officials cited a slump in restaurant industry consumption as the reason for the low potato price

As spring potato prices continue to weaken, it is predicted that highland potato production will increase by 7% compared to the previous year. Nonghyup Hanaro Mart and others are trying hard to drive market prices by rolling up their sleeves to sell potatoes. However, some large franchise restaurant companies are ignoring the consumption of domestically produced potatoes, causing criticism. On June 28, at Garak Market in Seoul, potatoes were traded at an average of 26,927 won per 20 kg box. It is 1.6% higher than June of a normal year (26,504 won), but 26.1% lower than June of last year (36,448 won). These are open field spring potatoes shipped mainly from Dangjin and Seosan in South Chungcheong Province, Gochang in Jeollabuk-do, and Boseong in Jeollanam-do. According to the Seoul Agriculture, Fisheries and Food Corporation, the amount of potatoes brought into Garak Market was 1,929 tons as of the fourth week of June (24th to 28th), a 14.6% decrease from the same period last year ...